3250: Managing South Sudan’s Natural Resources, Tackling Illicit Mining and Revenue Leakages

Democracy in Action host Sani Martin came to listeners live from Jibam for a new episode on managing South Sudan’s natural resources, asking how oil and minerals can be governed with transparency, economic stability and long-term development. He was joined by Ghizam Moses, Executive Director of Humanity and Community Empowerment Organization and Secretary General of the South Sudan National Land Coalition, and Boboya James Edmond, CEO of the Institute of Social Research and Policy and Secretary General of the Civil Society Coalition of Natural Resources, to unpack findings from a joint study in Eastern Equatoria that highlights weak enforcement of the 2012 Mining Act, limited public awareness, revenue leakages through smuggling routes, environmental damage and poor community benefits, with the guests calling for stronger oversight, better border and airport monitoring, clearer licensing and community development agreements so local communities can benefit from mining while reducing illicit extraction and losses.